Politics Archives

Wednesday

14 Oct 2009

Department of Equine Hyperbole

Sea the Stars winning the Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp. Photo: Michael Steele/Getty Images. So long, then, Sea the Stars. A shame you won’t run as a four year old or in the Breeders’ Cup but hardly a surprise that you’re heading straight for the stud farm. The BBC News last night suggested you were the greatest horse we’d ever seen and an editorial in today’s Times suggests you may “without much quibble, be considered the greatest” of all champions. This is a typically unecessary piece of hyperbole. It doesn’t diminish Sea the Stars one bit to note that there is room for quibble here. Comparing horses from different generations

Lloyd Evans

A sombre scene and a shift in power

Poppy day came early to Westminster today. Brown began proceedings by reciting the names of the 37 men killed in Afghanistan over the summer. This took two minutes. The house was silent, funereal, almost awe-struck with the solemnity of the occasion. Brown looked like a man deeply moved by personal grief as he worked his slow way through the deadly list. Ann Winterton punctured the mood with the first question, suggesting that once the Lsibon treaty is ratified the government’s first duty will be ‘to further the objectives of Europe in preference to those of Britain’. Brown denied this again referenced the Afghan conflict in response. When his trun came,

David Blackburn

PMQs Live Blog | 14 October 2009

So Parliament is back, and so, too, is PMQs. Stay tuned for live coverage from 1200. 12:02: And we’re off. Brown pays his respects to those who have lost their lives in Afghanistan and lists their names. Very sombre and he has pitched it right. There are a lot of names; it takes five minutes to read them. It’s extremely moving. 12:06: Ann Winterton on the Lisbon Treaty. Brown replies by praising the troops in Afghanistan – over doing it as ever. Swipes the sovereignty aside. 12:07: Tony Wright: “Is it more dangerous when politicians become generals, or generals become politicians”. 12:08: Now Cameron’s on his feet. A question about

David Blackburn

Only the catharsis of a general election can end the expenses saga

I’ve just had a novel and very disturbing experience: I agreed with Harriet Harman. This was no Pauline conversion, but the Leader of the House’s suggestion that it is the Commons, not party leaders, that must rescue parliament’s reputation and restore public trust is self-evident: only parliament can renew itself. Of course party leaders have an input and direct the debate, and have much to gain in being seen to expunge the rot. But the disquiet of backbenchers, even virtuous reformers such as Martin Salter, Ann Widdecombe and Norman Baker, illustrates that only MPs can change the rules that govern them: as they will resist what they see as unfair. That disquiet has inspired understandable public anger and incredulity; this insipid parliament does

Tuesday

13 Oct 2009

Martin Bright

What Should We Do About Carter-Ruck?

I am delighted to add my voice to those congratulating The Guardian’s David Leigh and parliament’s Paul Farrelly MP for fighting off lawyers Carter-Ruck over their absurd but spine-chilling injunction over the reporting of the activities of Trafigura in Ivory Coast. For once the over-used phrase “a great day for freedom of speech” actually means something. Perhaps now the British journalistic community will take heart and stand up to this firm of lawyers that specialises in closing down discussion of the ultra-rich and downright disreputable. It is difficult to imagine an episode more damaging for the reputation of this firm. Hurray. However, let’s take a step back here. The journalistic

Peter Hoskin

A goatherd by necessity

In his recent interview with Fraser, David Cameron said that he’s keen on bringing in outside talent to the government – the so-called “Goat” strategy, which has been a feature of Brown’s premiership. In her ever-excellent column, Rachel Sylvester makes the point that this may be as much from necessity as by design: “According to Anthony Wells, of UKPollingReport, at least a third of the House of Commons are likely to be novices after the next general election — the highest proportion since 1945. A perceived house of whores, whose members would sell their souls for a bathplug, will soon be replaced by a virgin Parliament, untouched by the John

David Blackburn

Legg Commission: full Shadow Cabinet details

The damage to the Shadow Cabinet caused by Sir Thomas Legg has been published. All in all it’s not too bad for the Tories. Ken Clarke tops the list with £4,733 on gardening and cleaning expenses. In terms of comparing figures between the parties, an arresting and emotive issue to the public, the Tories are once again ahead, a point that reinforced by the fact that far from all of Labour’s and the Lib Dem’s frontliners have declared their exposure. However, there might be problems for the Tories in the future. David Cameron and George Osborne both need to produce more information about their mortgage claims. Overall though, the Shadow

Peter Hoskin

Brown’s strange position of strength

I’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeating: the email exchanges between Danny Finkelstein and Philip Collins over at Comment Central are one of neatest features in the political blogosphere – always worth a read. They’ve got a new one up today, discussing how Brown should go about handling the Legg letters. Does he force Labour MPs to cough up, and risk drawing their anger? Or does he fold and allow them to fight Legg, to maintain some degree of their support? It all reduces to an important point from Collins; one which could seem counter-intuitive at first, but makes more sense the more you think about it: “I would

David Blackburn

Widdecombe defies Cameron over the Legg letters

The Tory leadership’s line on Sir Thomas Legg’s expense repayment demands is clear. Mr Cameron told GMTV: “Repay or you cannot stand as Conservative MP”. The public’s justified outrage at expenses is such that party leaders must take a stand and discipline MPs, deemed to have transgressed rules or to have exploited the second home allowance. But, as I wrote yesterday, the Legg Commission exceeded its remit, acting as judge rather than auditor. As such, MPs are right to resist Sir Thomas’ demands: Parliament urgently needs reform, but there is a clear problem that reform will be inaugurated by a commission that ignored its terms of reference. This is

Monday

12 Oct 2009

Alex Massie

British Press Banned from Reporting Parliament. Seriously.

This time, perhaps even the lawyers have gone too far. It’s hard to recall, even in the long history of appalling gagging orders, a more disgraceful injunction than this: The Guardian has been prevented from reporting parliamentary proceedings on legal grounds which appear to call into question privileges guaranteeing free speech established under the 1688 Bill of Rights. Today’s published Commons order papers contain a question to be answered by a minister later this week. The Guardian is prevented from identifying the MP who has asked the question, what the question is, which minister might answer it, or where the question is to be found. The Guardian is also forbidden

Peter Hoskin

Brown told to repay £12,415.10 of expenses

Here’s the statement from the office of the PM, courtesy of Sky’s Cheryl Smith: Mr Brown received a letter from Sir Thomas Legg this afternoon. Sir Thomas Legg has issued his provisional conclusions to MPs, asking for further information where necessary before concluding in December. Mr Brown has always supported this process and will cooperate fully and make the necessary repayment. Mr Brown’s expenses have always been cleared by the House Authorities as entirely consistent with the rules. He has not claimed the maximum level of expenses. The Review says its findings “carry no implication about the conduct or motives of the MPs concerned”. To be absolutely sure, Mr Brown

Peter Hoskin

Is this the death of another anti-Brown plot?

An eagle-eyed spot by Hopi Sen, who has posted on Barry Sheerman’s comments in the Huddersfield Examiner today. If you remember, Sheerman was mooted as a key component in an anti-Brown plot, whereby he’d stand as chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party on a Get Gordon Out platform. Votes for Sheerman, it was thought, would be votes against Brown – and increase the pressure on the PM to stand down. But in the Huddersfield Examiner, Sheerman suggests that, while he will stand for the PLP position, he won’t do so as part of a coup: “…Mr Sheerman denied this was part of a move to topple Gordon Brown. He said

Peter Hoskin

Selling assets at rock bottom prices – sound familiar?

So what to make of Gordon Brown’s plan to sell off an expected £16bn-worth of assets? Like Charlie Elphicke over at CentreRight, I have my qualms. As he puts it, Brown has form when it comes to selling national assets at rock-bottom prices. And, in the immediate aftermath of the credit crunch and a recession, the prices he gets for our stake in Urenco, say, or the Dartford crossing, are likely to be rock bottom. Besides, there’s an unmistakeable whiff of political opportunism about this plan. You can imagine the posturing now: “We’re selling off assets we can spare to protect jobs and frontline services, unlike those dastardly Tories…”

Peter Hoskin

Smith to apologise to Commons

Sky report that the Commons Standards and Privileges Committee have judged that Jacqui Smith was “clearly” wrong to claim that her sister’s home was her main residence. Smith has been ordered to apologise to the Commons, which she’s expected to do later today. No further action will be taken. Throw in the news about Damian Green’s “not proportionate” arrest, and the hubbub over Sir Thomas Legg’s letters, and you feel that today will do little to restore the public’s faith in the political class…

Fraser Nelson

The politics of growth

One strange side-effect of the car crash that was the Liberal Democrat conference is that no one dares say the word “cuts” anymore. Since Nick Clegg promised “savage cuts” – alarming his base in the process – we’re back to the normal euphemism of “efficiencies”. This, like so much in life, will have Gordon Brown hopping mad. He didn’t want to say “cuts” in the first place, and the whole farrago will prove (in his head) that he should stop taking advice from people outside his coterie. The next stage in the debate is to focus on growth. As James revealed in his political column for the current edition

The Spectator

Just in case you missed them… | 12 October 2009

…here are some of the posts made at Spectator.co.uk over the weekend. Fraser Nelson illuminates who is affected by Brown’s double hit. James Forsyth asks why the Pakistani Taliban are being given another opening and argues that Brown remains divorced from voters. Peter Hoskin thinks that No.10 will welcome Alan Johnson’s backing and says that Westminster will have to start thinking about expenses again. David Blackburn debates the rumour that David Davis is planning to return to frontline politics and sees the Italian Right preparing for life without Berlusconi. Martin Bright thinks that the Conservative conference proves that the party is far from being unbeatable. And Rod Liddle wonders when

David Blackburn

The Commons closes ranks

They are all in it together. This morning’s papers lead with the story that Members’ Estimate Committee will challenge Sir Thomas Legg’s demands that MPs repay excessive expense claims, on the grounds that Sir Thomas’ has applied retrospective rules on maintenance grants. Many MPs will take legal action to avoid repayment. The pro-transparency MP John Mann told the Guardian: “The Legg team have clearly got problems, because [MPs] don’t have the receipts for a lot of this stuff. Clearly, if someone has managed to get [a claim] signed off by the fees office then they have a case when asked to repay. “There could be as many as 200 MPs

Alex Massie

Is David Cameron going to be the last Prime Minister of the United Kingdom?

Could David Cameron be the last Prime Minister of the United Kingdom? Clearly we’re getting ahead of ourselves here, but… Some regular commenters will hope so since this would, depending upon your political preferences, either be the long-awaited national awakening or an opportunity to put the uppity Jocks in thier place and see how many bannocks that butters. I’m indebted to Joan McAlpine for alerting me to Jackie Ashley’s column making exactly this case. Not making it persuasively but making it nevertheless. Now, granted, Ashley’s piece appears to be a curious mash-up of SNP and Labour talking points designed to suggest that the only patriotic vote is a Labour vote

Alex Massie

Why Fox-Hunting Matters

Members of the Bicester and Whaddon Chase Hunt. Photo: Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images. And so it begins. As a traditionalist when it comes to these matters, I think it best that parties wait until they win an election before they water down or abandon their promises. Apparently, however, that’s an old-fashioned view these days. Despite repeated promises that there would be a government-sponsored bill to repeal the Hunting Act, it seems that Dave’s Conservatives are preparing to abandon that commitment and leave the matter to a Private Members’ Bill. According to Melissa Kite’s Telegraph report: The shadow cabinet member in charge of hunting last night confirmed that the party was considering

Sunday

11 Oct 2009

David Blackburn

Davis for Home Secretary?

The Express’ William Hickey column reports that David Davis, not Chris Grayling, will serve as Home Secretary should the Tories win the election. Here’s what Hickey heard: ‘I’m now told there have been mounting whispers among MPs that Grayling could lose out to David Davis for the Home Secretary’s job should the Tories win the general election. Only this week Davis, who stood down from the shadow post last year in order to champion civil liberties at a by-election, signalled he was ready to return to frontbench politics if offered a “proper job”. A colleague tells me: “David has never really been part of Cameron’s inner circle but many of